why love? rick griffith, crossroads international church

Why Love?Why Love?

Rick Griffith, Crossroads International Churchwww.biblestudydownloads.com

A little knowledge can be

dangerous

Our Past 4 MessagesOur Past 4 Messages

1 Cor. 12• Intro• Speaking Gifts• Serving Gifts• Unity & Diversity


13

Dangers of Studying Gifts

Overview of 1 Cor. 12–14Overview of 1 Cor. 12–14



1 Cor. 13• Love1 Cor. 13• Love

1 Cor. 14• Prophecy• Tongues

1 Cor. 14• Prophecy• Tongues

The Fruit of the Spiritxliii

Gifts versus Fruit of the Spirit

xlii

Gifts Fruit

Abilities Christ-likeness

Relate to service Relate to character

Means to an end The end itself

What a Christian has What a Christian is

Gifts versus Fruit of the Spirit

xlii

Gifts Fruit

Plural: many Singular: one (love)

Often misused in the church

Rarely misused in the church

No believer possesses all

Every believer should strive for all

Will cease (temporary) Will last (permanent)

Today's Key Idea

The most vital ingredient in using our gifts is love.

But why do we need to

use our gifts with love?

I. Love is superior to gifts (1-3).I. Love is superior to gifts (1-3).

biblestudydownloads.com

"The Blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church"

-Tertullian-

PrayPray- For a Revival

- That the Love of Christians May Shine

- For Perseverance, Endurance of The Saints

- For Unity of the Church in India

- Against Retaliation by the Christians

I. Love is superior to gifts (1-3).I. Love is superior to gifts (1-3).

Our Vision is to…

Love God

Love the Nations

Love the Church

II. Love benefits others (4-7).II. Love benefits others (4-7).

Relational Aspects of Love (4-7)Relational Aspects of Love (4-7)

• Passively patient• Actively kind

Love benefits others both passively and actively (4a-b):

Heart Size



Love Love doesn't hurt othersdoesn't hurt others in in seven negative ways (4c-5):seven negative ways (4c-5):

• EnvyEnvyLove benefits others both passively and actively (4a-b):

Don't feel inferior

about your gift!



• Love Love doesndoesn''t hurt othert hurt others in s in seven negative ways (4c-5):seven negative ways (4c-5):

• EnvyEnvy• BoastingBoasting• PridePride


Don't think

highly of your gift!



• Love Love doesndoesn''t hurt otherst hurt others in in seven negative ways (4c-5):seven negative ways (4c-5):

•EnvyEnvy•BoastingBoasting•PridePride•Behaving improperlyBehaving improperly•SelfishSelfish• IrritableIrritable•UnforgivingUnforgiving


Love knows the right things to get happy about (6).

It does not rejoice about injustice…

… but rejoices whenever the truth wins out

Gifts are temporary and partialGifts are temporary and partialGifts are temporary and partialGifts are temporary and partial

8 Love never fails. But where there 8 Love never fails. But where there are are propheciesprophecies, they will , they will ceasecease; ; where there are where there are tonguestongues, they will , they will be stilledbe stilled; where there is ; where there is knowledgeknowledge, it will , it will pass awaypass away..

9 For we know in part and we 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part,prophesy in part,

10 but when 10 but when perfectionperfection comes, the comes, the imperfect disappears.imperfect disappears.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 NIVNIV

to teleion (Gr)to teleion (Gr)

To teleion is a mega issue!

To teleion is a mega issue!

______________________________________________________________________________ Crucial Questions Canon (Bible) Rapture Body (Church)______________________________________________________________________________ 13:8 What is the nature of: a) prophecy & knowledge? revelatory non-revelatory revelatory b) tongues? confirmatory non-confirmatory confirmatory When do these gifts cease? with canon at Christ's coming with canon 13:10 What is to teleion? the "complete" the "perfect" the "mature"

(the canon) (Christ's coming) (the body) 13:11 What does growth to before and after before and after before and after manhood represent? completed canon Christ's coming body's maturity

(shown by canon) 13:12 What are partial and before and after before and after before and after full sight and knowledge? completed canon Christ's coming body's maturity

(completed by parousia)

________________________________________________________________________________

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 16

Robert L. Thomas, JETS (1974): 81-89

1. The Canon View sees to teleion as "the complete, the totality," referring to "the completed Scriptures." Therefore, prophecy, knowledge and tongues ceased before the New Testament was finished and are not existing today.

Strengths

Weaknesses

a. Revelational knowledge context (vv. 8-9).

a. Irreconcilable with Christ's coming (the parousia) in verse 12.

b. Confirmatory nature of tongues (cf. 14:22).

b. The context does not refer to a completed New Testament. It's also

doubtful that Paul ever envisioned one.

c. Contrasts with partial nature of prophecy and knowledge.

c. "The whole" (to ek pantos) better contrasts "partial" than to teleion in that

both are quantitative.d.

to teleion often means "complete."

e. "Complete" best contrasts "partial" (v. 10).

The Canon View of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 16


2. The Rapture View sees to teleion as "the perfect" (as opposed to "the complete" above), referring to the coming of Christ at the Rapture. Therefore, prophecy, knowledge and tongues will cease only when Christ comes and exist today as legitimate gifts.

Strengths

Weaknesses

a. Adequately explains "knowing fully" in verse 12.

a. Inadequately explains the gradual maturing development of verse 11.

b. "Face to face" (v. 12) well

describes seeing Christ at His coming (cf. 1 Cor. 1:7) and has OT parallels to seeing God personally.

b.Fails to recognize the distinctions between the revelatory nature of prophecy and knowledge and the

confirmatory nature of tongues (cf. 14:22)

c. "Perfect" well describes the condition at the parousia (Rapture).

c. Paul never uses to teleion as "the perfect" in the absolute sense.

d. to teleion often means "perfect" in secular, philosophical Greek (e.g.

Plato) as well as James 3:2.

d. "Perfect" (a qualitative term) poorly contrasts with "partial"

(a quantitative term, v. 10).

The Rapture View of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 17


The Body ViewThe Body View

3. The Body View sees to teleion as "the mature," referring to the maturity of the body of Christ. "It pictures the Christian church collectively, growing up as one body, beginning with its birth, progressing through different stages of development during the present [relative maturity, v. 11] and reaching maturity at the parousia [ultimate maturity, v. 12; Thomas, 86]." By using the ambiguous term to teleion Paul left open two possibilities, the church as: (1) relatively complete at the completion of the NT or (2) ultimately complete at Christ's return. This view ultimately comes to the same conclusion as the Canon View.

Strengths

Weaknesses

a. Parallel 1 Cor. passages contrast to teleion (meaning "mature") with "babes, child" (nepios; 2:6 & 3:1; 14:20; cf. Heb. 5:13-14)

a. "Mature" (a qualitative term) poorly contrasts "partial" (a quantitative term, v. 10).

b. Consistent with both the relative maturity of v. 11 and the absolute maturity of v. 12.

b. Assigns a double sense for to teleion which may be unlikely.

c. Best fits the "body and gifts context" of 1 Cor. 12-14 and the striking similarity to Eph. 4:1-16.

d. Has the same strengths of a., b., & c. in the Canon View.

The Body View of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 16


Two IllustrationsTwo Illustrations

11 When I was a child, I talked like a 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a like a child. When I became a manman, I put , I put childish ways behind me.childish ways behind me.

12 Now we see but a poor reflection as 12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; in a mirror; thenthen we shall see face to we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; face. Now I know in part; thenthen I shall I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NIV1 Corinthians 13:11-12 NIV

Love will outlast even faith and hope Love will outlast even faith and hope (13)(13)

Love will outlast even faith and hope Love will outlast even faith and hope (13)(13)

"Three things will last forever"Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love––faith, hope, and love–

and the greatest of these is love."and the greatest of these is love."

"Three things will last forever"Three things will last forever–faith, hope, and love––faith, hope, and love–

and the greatest of these is love."and the greatest of these is love."

Why must we use our gifts Why must we use our gifts with love? Because…with love? Because… love is love is superiorsuperior to gifts, to gifts, love love benefitsbenefits others, and others, and love love outlastsoutlasts gifts gifts

Main IdeaMain Idea

How are you at loving others?

Motive is EverythingMotive is Everything

"Ask not what a man does to determine whether his work is sacred or secular. Ask why he

does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do

no secular act" –– A.W. Tozer

"Ask not what a man does to determine whether his work is sacred or secular. Ask why he

does it. The motive is everything. Let a man sanctify the Lord God in his heart and he can thereafter do

no secular act" –– A.W. Tozer

why love? rick griffith, crossroads international church

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